Let-off tension device for cloth weaving machines



Nov. 13, 1934. R. A. GELETTE El AL LET-OFF TENSION DEVICE FOR CLOTH WEAVING MACHINES Filed Aug. 4. 1933 ATTORN EYS Patented Nov. 13, 1934 PATENT; OFFIC LET-OFF TENSION DEVICE FOR CLOTH WEAVING MACHINES Robert A. Gelette, New Bedford, and Joseph R. Cosgrove, North Dartmouth, Mass.

Application August 4, 1933, Serial No. 683,100

1 Claim. (01. 188-83) The invention relates to a let-off device or an overrun clutch brake for cloth weaving machines.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein an overrun clutch is connected with the loom beam of a cloth weaving machine so that proper tension and braking action will be had upon the beam yet the same may be turned counter to the tension thereon so that the weaving defects can be cured and at the same time assuring convenient adjustment and a continuity of an adjusted tension upon the beam.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein oscillation of a loom beam of a weaving machine may be had and the resetting of the tension on warp threads with dispatch and without the release of the braking tension andalso the automatic take-up of overnight stretch of such warp threads for the successful working of the weaving machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character'which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficacious in its operation, readily and easily adjusted to vary the tension of the loom beam upon warp threads of the weaving machine and the freeing of the loom beam for pick-up work in weaving without disturbing the adjusted tension or the braking mechanism of such loom beam, and also inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device constructed in accordance with the invention and shown partly in section on the line l1 of Figure 2 and partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view through the brake adjustment.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates 55-generally a portion of a loom beam for cloth weaving machines and in this instance is of solid formation as a substitute for the whip beam of standard kind, and cooperating with such beam is the let-off tension brake device constituting the present invention and hereinafter fully de- 50.

scribed.

The brake device comprises a circular casting 10 having centrally fastened thereto the end of the loom beam 'A, the fasteners being indicatedat 11. This casting is formed with a central hub 12 for the axle 13 of said beam A and also concentrically thereof is a mounting flange 14 for the inner ring 15 of an overrun clutch including the outer ring 16. The inner ring is made fast about the mounting flange 14 to the casting 10 by fasteners 1'7, and at intervals has formed in its outer periphery substantially wedge-shaped recesses or cavities 18 for floating clutch rollers 19, these movable upon wear plates 20 located at the inner ends of said cavities 18, the rollers 19 being frictionally engaged with the outer ring 16 of the said clutch and having wedging action between said rings 15 and 16 for clutching engagement when the loom beam A is rotating clockwise and in the direction of, the pull of the warp threads (not shown) thereon, the loom beam A'being freed for rotation in the reverse, direction or counterclockwise.

Embracing the outer ring 16 of the clutch is the split brake band 21 having a brake lining 22 frictionally engaging theouter periphery of said ring 16. At the ends of the band 21 created by the split therein are adjusting screw cars 23, one having threaded therein the adjusting screw 24, while the other has the set screw loose therein and this screw carries a hand knob or head 25 for the manual turning thereof. The screw 24, next to the hand knob or head 25, is formed with a circular enlargement 26 provided in its face next to the ear 23 thereto with notches 27 at intervals concentrically with respect to said screw for selective engagement by a latching friction ball 28 tensioned by a spring 29 fitted within a suitable recess 30 for accommodating the same against said ball. Thus it will be seen that the screw 24 can be frictionally latched under the adjustment of the same to increase or decrease the braking power of the band 21 upon the outer ring. 16 of the clutch.

The band 21 has fixed externally thereof diametrically opposite the screw 24 a bracketed arm 31 extended within an'adjustable jaw 32, the same being provided with a slotted base 33, the slots 34 therein receiving binding screws 35 engaged in a piece 36 of the frame of the loom. It

should be apparent that by the screws 35 the jaw 32 can be adjusted for the proper setting of said jaw with relation to the arm 31. This jaw is of a size to provide a limited play clearance for the arm 31.

On the jaw is a barrel extension 37 having threaded therein an adjusting screw 38 provided with a turning head or knob 39, the inner end of the screw working against a tensioning spring 40 held within the barrel 37 and this spring'carries a contact 41 engageable with the arm 31, it being seen that upon adjustment of the screw 38 the tension of the spring 40 can be varied to regulate, through the instrumentality of the contact 41 with the arm 31, the tension thereon within the jaw 32.

Tapped into the barrel 37 is a set screw 42 which engages the adjusting screw 38 to lock the same in adjusted position, as should be obvious.

It will be apparent that by adjustment of the screw 38 thread tensionupon the loom beam A can be had and this tension varied under adjustment of such screw, while the braking effect of the band'21 can be varied by adjustment of the screw 24 upon the outer ring 16 of the overrun clutch and the loom beam A can be freed or declutched by the. manual turning of the beam A in a reverse direction to the pull or tension of thread thereon; and this enables take-up work in the handling of the weaving machine. To declutch the loom beam A the latter must be moved anti-clockwise, while the clockwise movement of such beam is under tension of the warp threads in the weaving machine.

Carried by the casting 10 is the removable cover plate-43 held in place by fasteners 44. In the,

operation, the outerring 16' looks with the inner ring 15 throughthemedium of the overrun clutch including the rollers 19, this being effected in the direction of the pull of the threads and being held tensioned by the brake band 21', thelining 22 providing the, necessary friction and the brackets 23 attached to thebrake band to allow for adjustment of the tension which is had by manually working the handle 25 operating the screw 24', which latter is prevented from vibrating out of adjustment by the latch 28; The bracketed arm 31 locks the device but allows for "night stretch oftentimes found in amount without possibility of an overroll at the beam A, there being a constant tension and a simplified rollback by the use of the overrun clutch. It should be apparent that any desirable tension may be applied to the beam A through adjustments by'the screw 24 and the member 38 and the device being once set for a given weave will require little or no attention thereafter, the

device being susceptible of taking care of overrayon and silk. What is claimed is: v l

e A let-01f tension device for looms, comprising a circular casting formed with a central hub for an axle of a loom beam, the said beam being fastened to the casting, a mounting flange formed on the casting concentrically of said hub, an

overrun clutch including outer and inner rings,

said inner ring being made fast to the mounting flange and having at intervals, wedge-shaped recesses, floating clutchlrollers within said recesses for frictional engagement with the outer ring, a split brake band encircling the outer ring and having a brake lining for frictional engagement therewith, adjusting screwears carried by the band at opposite sides of its split, an adjusting screw swiveled in one ear andthreaded in the other ear, a bracketed arm carried by said band diametrically opposite the split therein, an adjustable jaw carried by the frame of the loom and receiving the bracketed arm, a barrel extension on'said jaw, an adjusting screw threaded therein, and a spring tensioned contact within the barrel and operated upon bythe last-named adjusting screw to have the contact engage with .said bracketed arm. 3

ROBERT A. GELETTEQ, JOSEPH R. cosqaovn. 

